The 40-year-old has been linked with a January transfer move for Ince as well as a loan deal for United's outcast winger Zaha.

But Solskjaer is facing increasing competition from Palace boss Tony Pulis, who has made it clear that he'd like to see the former Eagles winger return to the club.

Pulis said in December: "We'd be interested, whether we could do it, but we'd be interested if the player was available.

"We're cutting across a line I really don't want to go past, you're talking about other players who are owned by other football clubs. That's disrespectful to United and especially David."

Solskjaer has also targeted the midfield duo of Magnus Wolff Eikrem and Mats Moller Daehli, both capped by Norway, who he worked with at former club Molde and while in charge of the Manchester United reserve team.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is closing in on his first signings as Bluebirds boss [GETTY]

“We'd be interested, whether we could do it, but we'd be interested if the player was available”

Crystal Palace boss Tony Pulis

Eikrem, 23, is currently at Dutch club Heerenveen, having been sold by Molde last summer, but he attended Cardiff's FA Cup win at Newcastle on Saturday and has travelled back to south Wales to undergo a medical.

It's understood the deal will be worth around £2million and should be completed before the upcoming Premier League game against West Ham.

Daehli, 18, is also set to undergo a medical and complete a switch from Molde in the coming days.